22“Where’s my mommy?” Harlem asked Big Pie. “Out being a hoe.” Big Pie replied, Harlem stared at her blankly. “What’s a hoe?” Harlem asked.“People who have sex for cash.” Big Pie answered. “Anything else you want to know, little nuisance?” Big Pie asked. Pronto chuckled and shook his head.“Fucking her head up EARLY.” Pronto stated. Everyone burst into laughter. Suddenly they heard a knock on the door. “Let us in.” Dre ordered. Big Pie opened the hotel room door and Dre walked in followed by Zettie. “What’s up Zettie?” Pronto asked as they slapped each other up. Zettie sat down atthe desk. “So what’s going on Dre?” Zettie asked. “Why are we gathered here today?” Dre giggled.“I need you to take us to Alleghany State Park to pick up that bitch Tonya.” Dre stated. Zettie’s eyes widened. “You talking about your baby moms?” Zettie asked. “What happened now?”“Long story short, she cool with the nigga that snitched on my mom.” Dre replied, Zettie let out a sigh of relief. “All we have to do is kidnap her and Alonzo will come running like a Drake ass nigga.” Pronto stated.“Cool with me.” Zettie replied. “Let’s do this.” Everyone got up, exited the hotel room and pulled off leaving Harlem alone. “I want my mommy!” Harlem screamed at the top of her lungs as she burst into tears.

“Damn!” Darren exclaimed. “It’s so fucking hard to find close parking down here! What the fuck!” Trina burst into laughter.“Calm down.” Meri stated. “You know damn well its hard to find close parking at Juneteenth. Just park on Fillmore and we can walk down.”“Okay.” Darren replied.

Yonny held the door open for Tonya as they entered the cabin, still hot from the shower they took together. They sat down next to each other at the kitchen table and Tonya lit a cigarette. Yonny pulled out some Kush and started breaking it down. “I have a grinder you know.” Tonya said, Yonny giggled. “I know, I just don’t like to use grinders.” Yonny replied.“Why not?” Tonya asked. “When you use a grinder, it breaks down the weed way too fine…Then when you go to smoke the dutch, you’re sucking weed particles instead of smoke.” Yonny replied. Tonya shrugged her shoulders.“Hey, different strokes I guess….” Tonya said as she opened a bottle of Henny.

23

“Yes! I can finally get some Shea Butter.” Meri announced as she got out of the car followed by Darren, Trina and Alonzo. They could hear the band playing as they neared the festival. “Oh shit!” Trina exclaimed. “That’s the owner of Love’s Bar!” Meri’s eyes widened. “That is him!” Meri replied. “Let’s run over there and ask him if he knows more information about Vickie’s death…” All four ran over to him, excited to finally get some answers. “John!” Trina shouted as she embraced him eagerly. “Hey Trina. Where the hell you been?” John replied as he released his grip. “Your customers miss you.” “That’s not important!” Alonzo interrupted. “What do you know about my mother Vickie’s death?” He asked. John shook his head in disgust. “Yolanda is nuts!” John replied. “ I told her we were never a fucking couple!” “What the hell does that mean?” Darren asked. “Get to the point!” “When she found out I was pimping your mother, she got jealous and tried to run Vickie over with her car that night you guys got into that fight.” John replied. “I told Vickie to watch out for Yolanda, but she brushed it off like it was nothing.” “And then what?” Meri asked. John sighed and wiped the sweat off of his forehead.

“Damn how long is it going take for us to get there?” Big Pie asked. Dre, whom was in the front seat, rolled his eyes.“Alleghany State Park is still an hour away.” Zettie replied, Dre turned to Zettie.“Don’t mind her, the suspense is unreal, that’s all.” Dre announced, Pronto and the goons chuckled. “This a nice whip you got here.” Big Pie declared. “It’s not many people in Buffalo with a limo.” Pronto lit the blunt and passed it to Big Pie.“Thanks.” Zettie replied. “ I have five vehicles, but this is my favorite. Drug dealing pays well.” Everyone burst into laughter, then suddenly, Zettie’s phone rang…

“So, tell me more about yourself.” Yonny said as he poured another shot of Henny.“Long story short, I’m a hoe.” Tonya replied, Yonny screw faced her. “Why do you choose to talk about yourself like that?” Yonny asked, Tonya burst into tears. “That’s all I know!” She screamed. “If only you knew what the fuck I been through…” She wiped the tears from her face. “ Then you would understand!” Tonya ran into the room and slammed the door shut, leaving Yonny alone in the kitchen.